HMS Belfast, a Second World War cruiser turned museum ship, is to be reactivated and renamed by the end of this month in order to patrol the English Channel.

The vessel’s current name has been taken by a new frigate under construction on the Clyde so it’s understood that the Prime Minister is renaming the vessel HMS Boris Johnson. This comes after claims that the Royal Navy, is already over-stretched and under-resourced.

HMS Belfast is the most significant surviving Second World War Royal Navy warship. Since her launch over 80 years ago, she fired some of the first shots at the D-Day landings, served in the Arctic Convoys, and in the Korean War.

It is understood that the guns on the vessel are to be replaced with fishing nets in order to catch migrant boats.

A recent Defence Committee Inquiry considered the role of the Armed Forces in countering Channel crossings by migrants (Operation Isotrope), and the wider implications for Defence, including what assets will be used, who will pay for them, how success will be measured and what the chain of command and reporting arrangements will be.

Vice-Chair of the Defence Committee, John Spellar MP, said:

“The decision to call in the Armed Forces to address migrant crossings has far-reaching implications across Government, yet fundamental questions remain over Operation Isostrope. The Services cannot become a fourth blue light service. As we’ve made clear in recent reports, the Ministry of Defence, and especially the Royal Navy, is already over-stretched and under-resourced. An additional responsibility, particularly one as substantial as intercepting Channel migrant crossings, places huge pressure on a department with a demanding-enough brief.”

Local Wetherspoons Bar Stool Filler, Ben Igot, told us:

“It’s about time and it’s great they’ve announced this news today of all days.”

Congratulations and thank you for reading the whole article, this is just an April Fools Day joke. The article above is not true and if anyone is sharing this after the 1st of April, please do remind them of that fact. The purpose of this article, aside from our usual April Fools’ day joke, is to make the point that reading beyond the headline should be the norm every day, not just on the 1st of April.

There’s a large volume of misinformation online, make sure you don’t add to it by sharing articles without reading them. Finally, be careful of the person sharing this article after the 1st of April as they very clearly don’t read what they share.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

55 COMMENTS

  2. I assume HMS Victory will assume her berth in the Pool of London to ensure that the RN retains a major tourist attraction in the capital

  3. LMAO George you completely had me until the “HMS Boris Johnson” part. I then realised it was the 1st of April…

  4. My late grandfather, who served on her during D-Day, would not be amused at the renaming I’m sure 😂

  5. Don’t joke. A friend of mine use to work on HMS Fearless back in the day and they use to borrow parts from this old gal.

  8. Fortunately its April Fools Day and we can disregard this innovative piece of reporting.

    I did hear however, that the MoD proposes to raise HMS Audacious the WW1 Dreadnaught battleship that hit a mine and sank in October 1914 whilst she was working up after being launched

  9. And about time too , I have too see that eyesore everytime I draw the Curtains from my Riverside Penthouse if I had wanted a dockyard view I’d have moved to Chatham George

      • No, probably a few months yet, theyve announced a shortlist of some base locations but theres a summer election thats prompting a lot of hot air. And in a surprise unannounced decision discovered in the spring budget statement yesterday theyve cancelled the $1.3bn acquisition of Predator drones and are putting the money into Cyber instead, though only wasted $10m this time compared to the $5bn in fees and compensation for cancelling the French submarines.

        • Yeah interesting cutting predators, thou it is April 1st so take it with a pinch of salt. Why cut a platform that can cover vast amounts of ocean cheaply and be able to carry a weapons load as well.

  11. I almost choked on my scrambled egg laughing when I read the headline on this one!
    Never stop these or Christmas ones George, despite the wingers.

    Patrol work lol!

  15. Good name choice, must have been a close run thing with HMS Prince Andrew.

    That dazzle cammo works very well in the urban river setting.

  17. Ive got to say that this is a great April fools, love it, HMS Belfast being used for patrol work and renamed HMS Boris Johnson. Just waiting for her to pass under Tower Bridge!!

  20. I know its April fools, but we are so desperate for ships I’m surprised Victory, Warrior and Belfast are not in active commission lol

  24. It has to be April fools Day
    The Islamic Republic of Iran in the same world cup group as England and the USA… couldn’t make it up.

  28. Excellent from the April-fool Pool of London.

    Imagine the NGS she could’ve given in the Falklands war, if we still had any 6 inch ammo left.

  29. Despite this obviously being a great story for todays date, I seriously wish we did have some heavily armed cruisers. The RN are lacking in the firepower department.

  30. Wonderful news George😃 Not so sure about the name change though-maybe an historic Commonwealth Prime Minister would be more appropriate in these changed times-HMS Sir Abubakir Tafewa Balewa would be my offering?. Many of my Belfast family would have seen her launched. She was only 11 000 tons but packed a mighty punch!!

  32. Don’t give BoJo ideas…. he’s got a little too much of Trump about him to not at least consider this one for a minute or two. Until recently the Belfast was probably the largest ship moored in London that’s not owned by a Russian oligarch as well.

  35. This is not the first April Fools joke on this website, I find it very childish, distasteful and insulting to whats going on in Ukraine.

    • Start your own website and experience the joys of not caring what Ian Gardiner thinks about your choices.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here